Olof Mellberg

Olof’s £50,000 thanks to fans

Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg paid more than £50,000 to ensure 3,200 fans who travelled to West Ham got specially printed shirts to mark him leaving Villa.

The Swedish international, who played his last game for Villa yesterday before joining Juventus on a free transfer this summer, had 3,200 home and away shirts printed with the message ‘Mellberg – Thanks 4 The Support’ on the back.

Villa fans were handed a free shirt on arrival at Upton Park before the 2-2 draw to end Mellberg’s stay at Villa. Many away fans were already decked out in Sweden colours, or dressed as Vikings in tribute to the long-serving defender, who spent seven seasons at the club.

He said: “This is just the perfect way to say goodbye to the fans and to thank them for all their support in my time at Villa.

“I have loved my time at the club and have had a great relationship with the fans.”